Lost in the Woods
As the field supervisor for students doing community service, Raiden prided himself on being capable and composed. But today, let’s face it. He’d royally messed up. Somehow, he’d managed to get lost in an area that wasn’t supposed to be unfamiliar to him. But luck had clearly abandoned him, and now he found himself deep in a remote forest, surrounded by towering trees and eerie silence, with only one student for company named Sekar.
"Mr. Rai, are you sure you know where we’re going?" Sekar asked, her tone laced with doubt as she studied the man who was usually the campus heartthrob. Raiden’s striking good looks and effortless charm often made the female students swoon, but right now, he felt anything but confident.
"Relax, Sekar. I’ve got a GPS," he replied, pulling out his phone with a casual flair. But the smirk vanished the moment he glanced at the screen. No signal. Not even a single bar.
Raiden’s throat tightened. He could feel the panic clawing its way up, but he refused to let it show. It would be downright humiliating if anyone found out he, the ever-capable Mr. Rai, was completely lost.
"Sir, I think we’re going deeper into the forest," Sekar said, her voice rising with concern. She looked around, and the endless canopy of trees did little to comfort her.
"You talk too much. Trust me, this is a shortcut to the inn," Raiden snapped, more harshly than he intended, trying to mask his growing anxiety.
Just as he finished speaking, their motorcycle sputtered and came to a sudden, jolting halt.
"Wait! What happened?!" Sekar’s voice was tinged with panic now as she clutched her seat.
Raiden frowned and fiddled with the bike, but there was no use. "Out of gas," he muttered, forcing a tight smile that somehow still looked maddeningly handsome.
Sekar’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Out of gas? Are you kidding me? What do we do now?"
Raiden sighed, raking a hand through his perfectly disheveled hair. "We walk. That’s what we do," he said, trying to sound composed. But as the dense forest loomed around them, even he couldn’t ignore the unsettling feeling creeping in.
Something wasn’t right about this place.
***
Raiden trudged forward, his hands gripping the handlebars of the stalled motorcycle as he pushed it along the uneven path. Every few steps, he glanced back to ensure Sekar was still trailing behind him. She was, though her pace had slowed, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and frustration.
They had been walking for nearly half an hour. The once-crisp air now hung heavy with humidity, and Sekar’s forehead glistened with sweat, strands of her hair sticking to her face. Her sneakers crunched against the forest floor as she trudged along, muttering under her breath.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Both of them instinctively looked up. Tiny droplets slipped through the canopy, splattering against their faces. In moments, the gentle drizzle turned into a full downpour, drenching them to the bone.
“Are you kidding me?” Sekar groaned, throwing her hands in the air.
Raiden sighed, pausing to wipe rainwater from his brow. His damp white shirt clung to his torso, showcasing his lean, athletic build, a detail Sekar noted but quickly dismissed in her irritation.
“This is just perfect,” Raiden muttered, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “Classic case of the universe conspiring against me.”
Sekar let out a frustrated sigh of her own, folding her arms. “It’s like bad luck has a personal vendetta against us today.”
Raiden smirked faintly but then glanced at her, his brows knitting together in mock suspicion. “You know, this is the first time in my life I’ve been this unlucky. Maybe it’s because of you, Kar.”
Sekar stopped in her tracks, her jaw dropping as she stared at him in disbelief. “Excuse me? Did you seriously just say that?” she sputtered.
Raiden shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he pushed the bike forward.
Sekar raised her voice, dripping with sarcasm, “Oh, Almighty God, why would You make a man this handsome but give him a tongue sharper than a dagger? Was this some kind of divine joke?”
Raiden threw her a sideways glance, his lips twitching into a bitter smile. “Careful, Kar. You might hurt my delicate ego.”
She rolled her eyes dramatically, stomping ahead of him. Raiden chuckled softly, despite the rain, despite the mud, and despite their predicament. Even in moments like this, her fiery retorts somehow made the misery a little less unbearable.
The rain poured harder, soaking the two as they trudged on through the dense forest. Neither of them said it out loud, but deep down, they both hoped the universe had a sense of humor and an end to this misadventure.
The rain showed no sign of letting up, hammering down relentlessly as Raiden and Sekar trudged through the forest. The once vibrant greens were now cloaked in gloom, the dark clouds overhead blotting out the sun. Though it wasn’t night yet, the forest felt eerily dim, with only faint shadows moving in the distance.
Sekar blinked, rainwater dripping from her glasses. She paused to clean them, her hands trembling slightly from the chill. "Mr. Rai," she called out, her voice breaking the heavy silence.
Raiden grunted in response, sounding as exhausted as he looked. "Hmm?"
"Over there," she said, pointing through the rain. "Is that... a house?"
Raiden followed her gesture and squinted through the downpour. Sure enough, a small structure was barely visible amidst the dense trees.
"Not a house," he corrected, his tone flat. "It’s just a shack."
Sekar’s lips tightened, annoyed by his pedantic response. "Whatever it is, it’ll do for shelter," she shot back.
Raiden glanced at her, then at their sodden clothes and the drenched forest around them. She had a point. Even a flimsy shack was better than being battered by the rain.
They hurried toward the structure, their shoes squelching in the mud with every step. As they got closer, Raiden guessed it was a shelter used by durian farmers during harvest season. But it wasn’t harvest time now, and the durian trees stood barren.
Inside, the shack was a bare-bones refuge: wooden planks formed the walls, with a thatched roof that leaked in places. A single lantern hung from a rusty nail on the wall.
Raiden stepped in and grabbed the lantern. He fiddled with it for a moment, striking a match from a small pack he kept in his pocket. The flame sputtered to life, and soon the lantern cast a soft, flickering glow across the cramped space.
Sekar watched in silence, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Despite everything—the rain, the mud, and the fact that they were lost—she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration. For all his sharp words and smug demeanor, Raiden was proving to be surprisingly capable.
"Not bad," she muttered, mostly to herself. How many city folks even know how to light a lantern these days? Most probably wouldn’t recognize one if it hit them in the face.
Raiden set the lantern on a wooden beam, brushing the rainwater from his hair. "What’s that?" he asked, noticing her smile.
"Nothing," Sekar replied quickly, biting back the faintest trace of amusement.
Raiden raised an eyebrow, smirking as he leaned against the wall. "Thought so."
Sekar shook her head, hiding her face behind her hands as she crouched down against the wall of the shack. For the first time all day, despite the relentless rain pounding on the roof and the thick air of uncertainty, she felt a sliver of relief. At least they were out of the rain, even if the shelter was barely holding together.
Raiden stood a few steps away, brushing his damp hair back with his fingers. Droplets trailed down his face as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, letting out a tired sigh. He glanced at Sekar, who was fumbling with her glasses.
She had taken them off, squinting at the rain-spattered lenses before attempting to clean them with the hem of her soaked shirt. It didn’t help. Instead, the fabric smeared the dirt and rainwater across the lenses, making them even more blurred.
Sekar let out an irritated tut. "Ugh, great. Now I can’t see a thing," she muttered under her breath.
Raiden tilted his head, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "What’s your prescription?"
"Minus four, with half a cylinder," Sekar replied curtly, her focus still on her glasses.
Raiden smirked, his voice turning playful. "So if you take off your glasses, you won’t be able to see my handsome face anymore, right? Tragic."
Sekar paused, raising an eyebrow as she looked in his direction or at least tried to. Without her glasses, all she could see was a vaguely human-shaped blur. She slipped them back on, her expression unimpressed.
"Even with glasses, I can’t see what’s so handsome about your face," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Raiden raised an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He couldn’t help but admit to himself how different this student was from the others who fawned over his looks. Sekar, on the other hand, seemed utterly immune to his charm, a fact that both intrigued and unsettled him.
Unable to clean her smudged glasses, Sekar slipped them back into their case and opted for contact lenses instead, thankfully prepared with a spare set in her bag.
The chill in the air made her shiver, and instinctively, she hugged herself for warmth. Without hesitation, Raiden shrugged off his jacket and draped it gently over her shoulders.
“Here,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “This should help.”
Sekar hesitated for a moment, surprised by the gesture. She glanced up at him, unsure whether to thank him or remain guarded, as she always did.
"Wear this, you must be cold," Raiden said.
"Thank you, Sir."
Sekar and Raiden's gazes locked.
Sekar's face looked beautiful to Raiden without her glasses. It was the first time he had seen her like this, and it captivated him.
Until now, Yuza and Tiara's son had managed to restrain himself, even as Sekar's wet shirt clung tightly, outlining her curves.
But... the atmosphere was very inviting. Slowly, Raiden leaned in, and their lips met. The handsome lecturer kissed Sekar's luscious lips slowly. Gradually, the air around them which was initially cold, became warm due to their actions. The connection of lips and tongues became more demanding.
Filled with desire, Raiden's hands began to explore Sekar's body, his hands slipping under her shirt.
"Sir, please don't...." Sekar tried to break free from the lecturer's tight embrace. However, her efforts were in vain. Raiden held Sekar tightly in his arms.
Raiden's passion burned as he caressed Sekar's slender neck.
"Ahhh...." A moan escaped Sekar's lips. The girl's body and mind were at odds. her mind said no, wanting to save her precious crown for her future husband, but her body welcomed Raiden's advances.
Sekar's moan was enough to signal Raiden that she was giving in.
Raiden peeled off his soaked T-shirt, revealing a physique that seemed sculpted by an artist’s hand. Sekar’s eyes lingered, her mind wandering into uncharted territory as she took in every detail, captivated by the sight.
Her thoughts snapped back as Raiden stepped closer, his fingers grazing the hem of her shirt. Before she could fully comprehend, he lifted it away, exposing her vulnerability to his unwavering gaze. His hands explored her trembling form, igniting sensations she hadn’t known existed.
"Sir, what if someone—” Sekar’s voice wavered, a mixture of hesitation and alarm.
“Shh,” Raiden whispered, his tone low and reassuring. “There’s no one here but us.”
“But what if later—”
Her words were cut off as Raiden pressed his lips against hers, silencing her protests with an undeniable force. His hands roamed her body, drawing her closer with every touch.
In a heartbeat, the space between them disappeared entirely, their clothes discarded and forgotten. Raiden’s arms encircled Sekar, holding her firmly against him as their bodies intertwined.
“Ah!” Sekar gasped sharply, her voice breaking through the stillness of the hut. Pain coursed through her as Raiden claimed her, his movements unrelenting. Tears slipped down her cheeks which are silent witnesses to her turmoil.
Raiden kissed her again, his lips seeking to soothe the ache she’s suffering and redirect her focus. Slowly, his movements became deliberate, his pace coaxing her into an unexpected surrender.
Sekar’s emotions swirled in chaos. She hadn’t loved this man. Yet here she was, offering him something she’d guarded her whole life. Her body betrayed her mind, responding with a yearning she didn’t understand. She fought the rising tide of guilt and confusion, silently blaming herself.
Raiden watched her closely, captivated by the emotions playing across her face. Pain gave way to something else, an unspoken pleasure that stole her breath. Sekar’s cries softened into quiet gasps, her body surrendering completely to the moment.
Beneath the starry night and within the secluded hut, Sekar experienced a paradoxical blend of agony and ecstasy, and the pleasure of heaven on earth.